The concept of ‘role expectations’ is an important one in the study of social behavior and cognition. It refers to the expectations that people have about the roles they play in various social contexts, and how these expectations affect their behavior and attitudes. This article will provide an overview of the concept of role expectations, its definitions, related research, and implications for social behavior.
Definition
Role expectations are defined as the set of beliefs and expectations that a person has about how they should behave in a particular social context or relationship (Kuriloff, 2009). These expectations are based on the roles that people play in various social situations, such as parent, friend, or coworker. Role expectations can be internal (self-imposed) or external (based on the expectations of others). They can also be implicit (unspoken) or explicit (explicitly stated).
Related Research
Research on role expectations has been conducted across a variety of disciplines, including psychology, sociology, and organizational behavior (OB). In psychology, role expectations are studied in the context of social cognition, with a focus on how people form beliefs about their roles and how these expectations influence their behavior (Kuriloff, 2009). In sociology, role expectations are studied in the context of social roles and social structure, with a focus on how role expectations can influence social relationships and social systems (Fischer, 2006). In OB, role expectations are studied in the context of leadership and organizational behavior, with a focus on how role expectations can influence job performance and organizational outcomes (Gibson & Vermeulen, 2003).
Implications
The concept of role expectations has important implications for social behavior. Research suggests that role expectations can shape people’s behavior in a variety of ways. For example, role expectations can influence how people interact with each other in various social contexts, such as the workplace or the family (Kuriloff, 2009). Role expectations can also influence how people perceive and evaluate their own performance in a given role (Gibson & Vermeulen, 2003). Finally, role expectations can shape the expectations that people have of other people in a given social context (Fischer, 2006).
Conclusion
Overall, the concept of role expectations is an important one in the study of social behavior and cognition. It refers to the expectations that people have about the roles they play in various social contexts, and how these expectations affect their behavior and attitudes. Research on role expectations has been conducted across a variety of disciplines, and the implications of role expectations for social behavior are clear.
References
Fischer, C. S. (2006). Networks, roles and ties: The emergence of social structure. In R. Scott & S. Kosslyn (Eds.), Emerging trends in the social and behavioral sciences (pp. 1–17). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Gibson, C. B., & Vermeulen, F. (2003). Role expectations. In M. G. Colarelli & S. E. Murphy (Eds.), Handbook of organizational behavior (pp. 543–558). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Kuriloff, E. C. (2009). Role expectations: A cognitive approach to social behavior. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.